Jepson Interchange (more information)
| Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange |
|
|
TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
previous taxon |
next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information) |
|
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
|
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Perennial to trees, from membranous bulb, fibrous corm, scaly rhizome, or erect caudex
Stem generally underground
Leaves generally basal, often withering early, alternate, generally ± linear
Inflorescence various, generally bracted
Flower generally bisexual, generally radial; perianth often showy, segments generally 6 in two petal-like whorls (outer sometimes sepal-like), free or fused at base; stamens 6 (or 3 + generally 3 ± petal-like staminodes), filaments sometimes attached to perianth or fused into a tube or crown; ovary superior or inferior, chambers 3, placentas generally axile, style generally 1, stigmas generally 3
Fruit: generally capsule, loculicidal or septicidal (berry or nut)
Genera in family: ± 300 genera, 4600 species: especially ± dry temp and subtropical; many cultivated for ornamental or food;some TOXIC . Here includes genera sometimes treated in Agavaceae, Amaryllidaceae, and other families.
Subshrub or tree-like, sometimes dying after fruit
Leaves rosetted (basal or elevated on branches), 2–15 dm, linear, stiff, sword-like, stoutly spine-tipped; bases ± expanded; edges generally curved up
Inflorescence: panicle, dense; flowers pendent
Flower 2–13 cm; perianth parts 6 in 2 petal-like whorls, generally ± fused, ± white, fleshy, waxy; stamens 6, filaments ± thick, fleshy; ovary superior, style short, stigma 3-lobed, concave or dome-like
Fruit: generally capsule
Seeds ± many in 2 rows per chamber, black, often flat
Species in genus: ± 40 species: especially dry sw North America
Etymology: (Haitian: yuca, or manihot, because young inflorescences sometimes roasted for food)
Pollinated at night by small moths that simultaneously lay eggs in ovary.
| Native |
Plant dies after fruit
Stems ± 0 aboveground; rosettes 1–many, very dense
Leaf generally 40–100 cm, flat or ± 3-angled, ± gray-green; expanded base ± 4–7 cm, 4–7 cm wide, ± white to greenish; margins minutely serrate
Inflorescence 2–40 dm, not appearing heavy; peduncle 15–35 dm; branches and flowers very many
Flower: perianth ± 3 cm, ± spheric, white, generally purple-tipped; filaments linear below, tip angled, club-like; pistil 1–2 cm, stigmas domed, clear-papillate
Fruit spreading to erect
Ecology: Chaparral, coastal or desert scrub
Elevation: < 2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Sierra Nevada (especially e slope), s South Coast Ranges, Southwestern California, sw edge Mojave Desert
Distribution outside California: n Baja California
Flowering time: Apr–May
Growth form highly variable; branched plants from desert edge have been called subsp. cespitosa (M.E. Jones) A.L. Haines; late-branching coastal plants have been called subsp. intermedia A.L. Haines; large, unbranched plants from s slope SnGb and SnBr have been called subsp. parishii (M.E. Jones) A.L. Haines; rhizomed colonial plants from s SCoR have been called subsp. percursa A.L. Haines
Recent taxonomic note: Warrants treatment in segregate genus Hesperoyucca Trel. as H. whipplei (Torr.) Trel.Horticultural information: DRN, SUN, DRY: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.